NEW COACH, SAME OLD PROBLEMS: Five Thoughts After Illinois Hands Maryland Another Loss

By Charles Harris

The Mike Locksley era is over, but Maryland football still has a long road ahead. The Terps showed some fight against Illinois, but another frustrating defeat exposed the mistakes, defensive shortcomings and missed opportunities that continue to hold this program back.

Maryland football is entering a new chapter, but the results are starting to feel awfully familiar. The Mike Locksley era is officially over, and the Terps are searching for a new identity, a new direction and, most importantly, a winning formula. Unfortunately, the beginning of this new chapter did not produce the result Maryland needed.

The Terps fell 20-17 to Illinois in a game that was competitive from beginning to end. This was not a matchup in which Maryland was completely outclassed or unable to compete. The two teams were relatively evenly matched, and the final score reflected that. Maryland had opportunities to win, but costly mistakes, questionable defensive execution and an inability to make enough plays in critical situations once again became the story.

There are positives to take away from the performance, but Maryland cannot continue celebrating moral victories. At some point, the program has to turn competitive performances into actual wins. A three-point loss might look respectable on paper, but it does not change the fact that the Terps are still trying to climb out of the hole created by years of inconsistent football.

Here are five thoughts after Maryland's 20-17 loss to Illinois.

1. Maryland and Illinois Were Evenly Matched, and It Showed

This was the type of game Maryland needed to win.

Illinois and Maryland appeared evenly matched in talent, and the game played out that way for all four quarters. Neither team consistently dominated the other. There was no overwhelming talent advantage, no complete mismatch and no reason Maryland should have walked away from this game feeling like it never had a chance.

The Terps competed. They stayed within striking distance and had opportunities to change the outcome. Unfortunately, competing and winning are two different things.

When two teams are evenly matched, the little things become magnified. Third-down conversions, turnovers, tackling, ball security and execution in the red zone can determine the difference between celebrating a victory and explaining another loss.

Maryland did not do enough of those little things.

That is especially frustrating because this was an opportunity for the program to establish some positive momentum following the coaching change. A victory would have given the players something to build on and provided the fan base with a reason to believe that a new direction could produce immediate improvement.

Instead, Maryland walked away with another defeat.

The new coaching staff needs to understand that these are the games Maryland has to start winning. The Terps do not need to beat every Big Ten powerhouse to demonstrate progress. They need to take care of business against opponents they can match up with physically and athletically.

Illinois presented that opportunity. Maryland did not finish the job.

2. Malik Washington's Interception and Dejuan Williams' Mistakes Were Costly

You cannot afford to give away opportunities against an evenly matched opponent, and Maryland did exactly that.

Quarterback Malik Washington's interception was a costly mistake that gave Illinois a momentum swing. Turnovers are particularly damaging in close games because they take possessions away from your offense and can provide the opposing team with favorable field position.

Maryland needed Washington to protect the football and make responsible decisions. The interception was a reminder that quarterback play is about more than throwing the football downfield. It is about understanding situations, recognizing defensive coverage and knowing when to take a chance and when to live for another down.

The Terps also needed more consistency from running back Dejuan Williams. He had costly moments that contributed to Maryland's inability to take full advantage of its opportunities.

There is no question that young players will make mistakes. That is part of college football. But the margin for error becomes extremely small when you are playing a team with a similar level of talent.

Maryland cannot afford to beat itself.

The new coaching staff will have to emphasize ball security, situational awareness and accountability. Those are basic football principles, but they become the foundation of a winning program.

The question moving forward is whether Maryland can develop more consistency at quarterback and running back. Washington needs to learn from the interception, and Williams needs to become more dependable when the offense needs him.

The Terps have enough talent to compete in these games. They need their offensive playmakers to stop giving opponents additional opportunities.

3. Lavain Scruggs Led the Defense, but the Defensive Front Was Too Quiet

Lavain Scruggs deserves recognition for his performance.

Scruggs led Maryland with 10 tackles, showing his willingness to be involved and make plays. His production was one of the individual positives from an otherwise disappointing defensive performance.

However, one player making 10 tackles does not mean the defense played well.

Maryland failed to generate a single sack against Illinois. That is unacceptable if the Terps want to become a more aggressive and disruptive defensive football team.

A defense does not have to record five or six sacks to win a game, but it has to find ways to pressure the quarterback, disrupt the timing of the offense and create negative plays. Maryland did not consistently accomplish those things.

The defensive front needs to become more physical. The linebackers need to attack downhill, and the secondary has to do a better job of finishing plays.

One of the most disappointing moments came on Illinois freshman running back Javari Barnett's 64-yard touchdown run. Defensive back Jamare Glasker took a terrible angle on the play, allowing Barnett to break free for a major scoring opportunity.

That is the kind of mistake that changes a football game.

At the Big Ten level, one missed angle or missed tackle can turn a routine play into a touchdown. Defensive backs have to understand their responsibilities, maintain proper leverage and take better pursuit angles.

Glasker and the rest of the secondary have to be better.

Maryland's defense cannot continue allowing explosive plays while failing to generate pressure up front. The new coaching staff has plenty of work to do, and defensive improvement should be near the top of the priority list.

4. The Run Defense Showed Some Improvement, but There Is Still Work to Do

There was at least a small sign of progress in Maryland's run defense compared with last year's matchup against Illinois.

However, let's not confuse improvement with success.

Illinois finished with 33 rushing attempts for 184 yards and a touchdown. That is an average of approximately 5.6 yards per carry. Those numbers show that the Fighting Illini were still able to find opportunities on the ground and put pressure on Maryland's defensive front.

The Terps need to become more disciplined against the run.

Stopping the ground game starts with winning at the line of scrimmage. Defensive linemen have to control their gaps, linebackers have to recognize blocking schemes and defensive backs must be willing to come downhill and make tackles.

Maryland cannot depend on the secondary to clean up mistakes after opposing running backs have already reached the second level.

The 64-yard touchdown run was the obvious example, but the larger concern is the consistency of the defense. Giving up nearly 200 rushing yards makes it difficult to control the tempo of a game.

Illinois was able to establish enough of a ground presence to keep Maryland from consistently dictating the terms of the matchup.

This is another area where the new coaching staff must establish an identity. The Terps need to become tougher, more physical and more dependable defensively.

If Maryland wants to compete in the Big Ten, stopping the run cannot be optional.

5. Another Three-Point Loss, Another Missed Opportunity for Maryland

The final score tells the story: Illinois 20, Maryland 17.

Three points separated the two teams, and Maryland had a legitimate opportunity to come away with a victory. But when the game reached its most important moments, the Terps did not make enough plays.

That is the frustrating part.

This was not a game where Maryland could simply point to a massive talent gap or an opponent that was completely out of reach. The Terps were competitive, but they made mistakes that proved too costly.

The interception, the offensive miscues, the defensive breakdowns and the inability to generate a sack all contributed to another disappointing result.

The coaching change was supposed to represent a fresh start. It was supposed to give Maryland football an opportunity to turn the page and begin building something different.

But a new coach does not automatically fix a football program.

The next head coach will inherit a team that needs better player development, improved recruiting, stronger line play and more consistent execution. Maryland also needs to establish an identity that can hold up against Big Ten competition.

The administration must get this next hire right. This program cannot afford another cycle of rebuilding without seeing meaningful progress.

Maryland has the resources, recruiting territory and conference platform to become a more competitive football program. But potential means nothing without results.

Final Ravori Sports Take: The Rebuild Must Start Producing Results

The Mike Locksley era is over, but the problems that followed Maryland football throughout that period have not disappeared overnight.

The 20-17 loss to Illinois was another reminder that this program has a long way to go. There were encouraging moments, and the Terps showed they could compete with an evenly matched Big Ten opponent. But the mistakes were too costly, and the defense still has too many weaknesses.

Malik Washington has to protect the football. Dejuan Williams has to become more consistent. The defensive front needs to generate pressure, and the secondary has to eliminate the kind of breakdowns that lead to explosive touchdowns.

Most importantly, Maryland needs a head coach who can establish accountability and turn close games into victories.

The Terps do not need another speech about changing the culture. They need better football, better execution and a program that knows how to finish.

New coach, new chapter, but the same old frustration. Maryland football needs to give its fans something more than another competitive loss. It is time to start winning.